During the monsoon season, India’s climate is hot and muggy, similar to that of South and Southeast Asia. Two of the four seasons that exist in the Indian subcontinent are monsoon seasons. Those are Season of the Southwest Monsoon and The Monsoon Season in the North-East.
The Arabic term mausin or the Malayan word monsin, both of which indicate season, are the origins of the name monsoon. Seasonal winds (rhythmic wind movements) (periodic winds) that change direction with the seasons are known as monsoons. A seasonal wind pattern known as the monsoon moves from the sea to land in the summer and from the land to the sea in the winter. According to some academics, monsoon winds are significant land and sea breezes.
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is one of the important facts to understand the mechanism of the monsoons.
Origin of Monsoon winds
Depending on the season, different directions produce monsoon winds. Monsoon winds originate at sea and move inland during the summer. Air over land goes out to sea while the wind is blowing the other way during the winter.
The difference in heat capacity between land masses and ocean water causes monsoons. The summer sun’s heat heats the land far more quickly than it warms the oceans, and as the land quickly cools, it radiates heat back into the atmosphere above it. During the summer, this causes the warm air over landmasses to expand and rise, drawing moist air from the oceans, which also rises. When the moist air from the oceans condenses into clouds, it produces the monsoons’ torrential precipitation. The opposite occurs in the winter since the land has already cooled since summer and the oceans discharge heat into the air above them.
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
The area where the trade winds from the Northern and Southern Hemisphere meet is known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ. The equator’s warm water and bright sun heat the air in the ITCZ, increasing humidity and giving it a buoyant quality. As the air rises and cools, moisture that has accumulated in a seemingly endless cycle of thunderstorms is released. The wet and dry seasons in the tropics are caused by seasonal variations in the location of the ITCZ, which have a considerable impact on rainfall in many tropical countries. A catastrophic drought or flooding in the surrounding areas can be brought on by changes in the ITCZ over time.
Causes of ITCZ
The intersection of the northeast and southeast trade winds in the region encircling Earth’s equator is known as the intertropical convergence zone. To comprehend better, we must be aware of trade winds and air masses.
- The trade winds are the easterly winds that circle the planet close to the equator.
- It is possible to measure the temperature and water vapour content of an air mass. In tropical latitudes, the air mass is hot to very hot and has a high relative humidity, which causes unstable weather.
- Due to the presence of trade winds, it manifests as a belt of clouds encircling the planet near the equator that includes showers and frequent thunderstorms.
Significance of Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
- The North-East and South-East trade winds converge in the ITCZ.
- Its Northward and Southward motion controls the rainfall’s spatial distribution.
- It is the section of the plane that is the wettest and does not have a dry season, therefore it is continually hot and humid.
- The monsoon trough is the name given to the ITCZ when it moves over the Ganga plain in the summer (5°N typically north of the equator).
- ITCZ, commonly referred to as the monsoon trough during the monsoon season, is a belt of low pressure that lies between the subtropical high pressure belts of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Frequently Asked Questions on Inter Tropical Convergence Zone
Que 1. What kinds of wind zones are there on Earth?
Ans- The polar easterlies, westerlies, horse latitudes, trade winds, and the doldrums are the five main wind zones on Earth.
Que 2. What does the term “monsoon” mean?
Ans-The Arabic word mausim, which signifies season, is where the word “monsoon” originates. It suggests a yearly seasonal reversal of the wind direction.
Que 3. Mention any three monsoon features.
- The nature of the monsoons is pulsing.
- These are impacted by the various atmospheric conditions in the area.
- The monsoon season lasts for 100 to 120 days.
Que 4. Describe the two elements that affect India’s climate.
Ans-
- Latitude: From the Rann of Kuchchh in the west to Mizoram in the east, the Tropic of Cancer runs across the centre of the nation. The tropical region encompasses over half of the nation, which is located south of the Tropic of Cancer. North of the Tropic, the entire remaining territory is subtropical. India’s climate so has traits of both tropical and subtropical climates.
- Altitude: To the north of India are mountains with an average height of around 6,000 metres. Additionally, India has a sizable coastal region with a maximum elevation of about 30 metres. The Himalayas block Central Asian cold winds from reaching the subcontinent. These mountains are the reason why the winters on this subcontinent are often milder than those in central Asia.
Que 5. Make a brief note about the trade winds.
Ans- Trade Winds are the winds that originate in the subtropical high-pressure region and move towards the equatorial low-pressure belt.
They blow southward, are redirected to the right by the Coriolis effect, and go in the direction of the equatorial low-pressure region. As they originate and blow over land, these winds typically carry little moisture. As a result, they either deliver little or no rain. The trade winds are the planet’s most consistent and long-lasting winds. They blow strongly and continuously in one direction.